Refrigerator latch



Nov. 24, 1942. G `E QURTISS, JR 2,303,027

REFRIGERATOR LATCH I J Filed May 28, 1940 2 SheetS-Sheet l GEORGE CUR TISS, JZ?.

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Nav. 24, 1942.l G. E cunss, JR 2,303,027

REFR IGERATOR LATCH Filed May 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g v vu www GEORGE E URTfSJ Patented Nov. 24, 1942 lithog to The Stanley macorpation Conn.. a|- Works. N Britain, of Connecticut" Anuman my zc, im. seni No. nu c 50mila.

The present invention relates to latches of the type usedon refrigerator doors, though not limited thereto, and is concerned with a novel retracting mechanism for withdrawing the latch bolt.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism oi simple.

' compact and inexpensive construction having a bolt normally eiectively held in latching position by a heavy spring and a novel retracting mechanism including a manually `operable handle located remotely from the latching mechanism and cooperably connected thereto for retracting the bolt.' v

A further object of the present invention is to provide a latching mechanism of'ithis type hav- Aing ythe furtheradvantage ofrequiring the. ap-

plication of but slight eiIort to the manually operable handle for retracting the latch bolt to unlatched position.

A still further object oi the invention is to provide a. retracting mechanism having a handle so constructed and so ljournalled that it can be moved in a variety of directions to accomplish the desired retraction ofthe latch bolt.

Other objects will-be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which willbe exempliiied on the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a portion -of a door having mounted thereon latching` and operating mechanism made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the operating mechanism of Fig. 1 before mounting on the door with the handle and escutcheon removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View of the operating mechanism taken through lines 3 3 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing an end evelation of the latch operating mechanism Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the latch mechanism in latching position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the latching mechanism in retracted position;

and

Figs. 7 and 8 are side -and rear elevations respectively of the latching mechanism illustrated 55 ixiiul'ig. 5 showing the mechanism in latching poon. f In order to illustrate one application of the present invention there is shown generally a re- 5 frigerator door D to which therein secured a frame F 4for supporting a latching mechanism L including a latch bolt B', and a manually operable retracting mechanismB including a han- F includes a channel shaped section I0 having welded to its upper end a retracting mechanism support I2 and having similarly welded to its lower end a U shaped mounting i4 for the latch mechanism. In the present instance the support i2 is provided with a vertical bearing plate I6 having a vertical end wall I8 and upper and lower horizontal side walls 2l. at right angles thereto and to the bearing plate it. In order to properly secure the frame F to the door D the outer ends of the wallsV il and are respectively provided with ears 22 and 2 4 securable't'o a mounting plate 28 on the refrigerator door D by means of suitable screws 28 and 30. 'I-'he lower end of the frame, comprising the U shaped mounting I4v is another mounting plate 34 on the .door

Referring more specifically to the retracting mechanism Bit-includes a` crosshead C slidably mounted on the support l2. To accomplish this, the crosshead comprises a rear stem portionj 38 slidably secured in a slot 40 in the end wall i8: and a iiat bearing surface 42, forwardlythereof, slidably secured to the bearing plate.'v i6` by a headed stud 44, ilxed to the plate'fi't;l and yextending through an elongated slot 48 in the crosshead. A spring i0 surrounds the stem 38 and is compressed between the end wall i8 and a pair of shoulders 52 on the stem whereby the crosshead C is normally urged to the left as indicated in Figs.

2 and 3. According to the invention, the crosshead C must be moved rearwardly against the action of the spring 50 to retract the latch bolt B.

In order to so move the crosshead, it is provided with a crossarm 54 having shoulders 56 and 5l operatively engaged by a yoke 58 secured tothe handle H.

More speciilcally theyoke 5l includes a pair of' spaced camming oi'tsets or ilanges 60 and 6i disposed forwardly of the crossarm shoulders 56 and Il and in engagement therewith, for camming the shoulders rearwardly against the action of the spring 50. The yoke further includes an arcuated journalling flange 6 2 engaging the pedle H. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 'I the frame Y similarly .provided with flanges 32 securable to riphery of the bearing plate stud 44 for fulcruming the yoke thereon. The yoke 88 is on H is movable in a variety of directions to actuate Y thecrosshead Cf toretract the latch' bolt B. For

this reason the journalled end of the handle H comprises a half-round or hemispherical bearing end 'I4 movably secured in a matingsocket I8 provided in a mounting fixture or escutcheon I8 having a slot 88 therein through which the stud 44 extends. The escutchea is securedl tovethe surface of the door wall 28 by the screws 28 and 88 which also'mount the support I2 thereon, as heretofore indicated.

The retracting mechanism thus far described operates in theI following manner: Referring to Fig. 1. when the handle H is rotated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, the stud 84 rotates therewith and one or the otherof the 84 does .not frictionallybind in the escutcheon v slot 48. lThe movement A of the crosshead, thus effected, is sufficient to retract the latch to unlatching position, as will be hereinafter described. The same movement of the crosshead is obtained by drawing the handle H away from the door in a plane vertical thereto instead of moving it in a plane parallel with the door. `When the handle comprising a pair of connected -bell cranks 88 and 84 respectively, pivotally mounted at the upper and lower ends of the channel section I8. As shown in Fig. 1, one arm 88o! the upper bell crank lever 82 is provided with a flange 81 .operatively engaging the free end of the crosshead stem 38. The other lever arm 88 is provided with an eyelet in which one end of a rod 88 is secured, and the corresponding arm 88 of the lower bell crank 84 is provided with a similar eyelet in which the lower end of the rod 88 is secured. The remaining arm 82 of the crank 84 is provided with a flange 83, similar to ange 81, for operatively engaging the latch mechanism L as will be hereinafter described.

Referring more specifically to the latch mechanism L. as illustrated in Figs. 5 through 8, there is provided a latch bolt support 84 pivotally mounted on a pin 85 secured between the walls of the U shaped mounting I4. As depicted, the 1 latch bolt support 84 comprises a pair of connected spaced flanges 86 between which the latch bolt B' is pivotally supported on a pin 81. Like- Y wise. pivotally secured to the latch bolt B on a pivot pin 88 is the forward end 88 of a plunger |88. A slot I8I is cut in the other end ofthe 70 limit longitudinal movement of the plunger. lA heavy spring |88 surrounds the plunger and is 75 interposed between a shoulder |84 thereon Aand the pin |82 whereby :he plunger and the bolt B' are urged to the forwardmost position permitted by the slot I8I.

Likewise Journalied on the pin I82 is one end of a toggle |88 normally retaining the latch bolt support r84 in the latchlng position illustrated in/llig.l y5. The toggle, |88 comprises the spaced links'l88 A(see Fig. ',1) having secured therebetween a stud II8 pivotally supporting one end of the lever III which is, in turn, pivotally mounted at its center on the bearing shaft II2 y secured between the walls of vthe U shaped `mounting I4. The lower end II8 of the lever yextends through a notch II4 in the frame F and the end Illv thereof constitutes a stop for limiting .the clockwise rotation of the lever I I I. There isfurther provided on the shaft II2 a spring III normally urging the lever into engagement with the stop IIB whereby the latch support 484 is normally held in latchlng position. Also engageable with the lower end II8 is the yflange 88 of the bell crank lever 84, movement of which rotates the lever III counterclockwise against 5 the action-ofthe spring II8 to thereby break the toggle and retract the -latch bolt as indi- `cated in Fig. v6v. As heretofore indicated, the

odesired movement of the bell crank lever 84 is obtained by actuating the handle H in either of the manners heretofore indicated. When thus retracted, the latch bolt B' and the suppOrt 84 lare drawn -to an unlatched position as a unit and without further compressing the heavy latch bolt vspring |88.l vDue however, to the pivotal mounting of the latch bolt B' within the latch support 84, when the' unit is in latchlng .position the latch bolt B' may be forced rearwardly towards unlatched position to permit the closing of the refrigerator door. This occurs when a strike |81 located on the door iam D engages the end of the bolt and cams it rearwardly against the spring |83 without breaking the toggle I88. When the stnlke has cleared the latch bolt, the spring I88 wil1 urge the latch bolt into a keeper |88 formed integral with the strike.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended; that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scop'e of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a latch, a frame member, a bolt support pivotally mounted on the frame member for movement into and out of latchlng position, a

latch bolt pivotally mounted in the support with the free end of the bolt projecting towards the pivotal mounting of the support, means normally urging the latch bolt to latching position and allowing pivotal'movement of the bolt yindependently -of movement of the support when the bolt is engaged by a strike, and means including toggle linkage for pivoting the support and bolt as a unit out of latchlng position.

2. In a latch,- a frame member, a bolt support pivotally mountedon the frame member for movement into and out of latchlng position, a

latch bolt pivotally mounted in the support with the free end of the bolt projecting towards the pivotal mounting of the support, a toggle linkage normally retaining the support in latching position, spring means normally urging the latch bolt to latching position) and allowing pivotal movement of the bolt independently of movement of the support when the bolt is engaged by a strike, and means for pivoting the support and bolt as a unit out of latching position.

3. In a latch, a frame member, a bolt support pivotally mounted on the frame member for movement into and out of latching position, a latch bolt pivotally mounted in the support with the free end of the bolt projecting towards the pivotal mounting of the support, means normally urging the latch bolt to latching position and allowing pivotal movement of the bolt independently of movement of the support when the bolt is engaged by a strike, toggle means normally holding the support in latching position, and means for actuating the toggle to pivot the support and bolt as a unit out of latching position.

4. In a latch, a frame member, a latch bolt support pivotally mounted on the frame member, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on the support with the free end of the bolt projecting toward the pivotal mounting of the support, a lost motion connection between the free end of the latch bolt and the support, said lost motion connection including a heavy spring normally urging the boltv to latching position relative to the tween the support and the frame adapted in one position'to hold the support in latching position relative to the frame, light spring means nor-,

mally urging the toggle to said position, and means positioned remotely from the toggle and in operable engagement therewith for forcing the toggle to a second position to thereby retract the latch support t0 unlatched position.

5. In a latch structure including a frame mountable o n a door, a latch bolt support pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on the support, a, plunger pivotally secured at one end to the latch bolt having a lost motion connection at its other end comprising an elongated slot slidably supported on a pin secured' to the support, a heavy spring compressed between the pin and the bolt for urging the bolt to the forward position allowed by the lost motion connection, a toggle linkage between said pin and a shaft secured to the frame adapted in one position to hold the latch bolt support in latching position, light spring means normally urging the toggle linkage to said position, and retracting means including a handle positioned remotely from said toggle and operably connected thereto by a transfer linkage for forcing the toggle linkage to a second position and thereby retracting the latch bolt support and the latch bolt carried thereby to unlatched position.

GEORGE E. CURTISS. Jn. 

